Nexans awarded major contract by leading power utility to support energy transition in Italy

While demand in electricity is booming, cables and accessories are key elements of the electricity value chain to transport the energy produced to its point of consumption.

At the heart of its DNA, Nexans offers fully integrated turnkey solutions to Distribution System Operators (DSO) to gradually modernize their networks: these solutions range from cables and accessories (transformers, switches, splices and cable ends) to the most advanced services for the operation, optimization and maintenance of networks.

Massive investments of around 4.4 trillion euros by 2030 will be made for the development of networks, mainly due to global electrification and the development of renewable energies. All over the world, DSOs are facing an increase in investments to develop and replace electricity networks: Nexans is supporting them, offering turnkey solutions for electrification through long‑term framework agreements.

In this context, Nexans has been awarded a major contract to supply a leading Italian utility with 6,000 km of low- and medium-voltage power distribution cables and services to support the energy transition in Italy, beginning in February 2024 and for a duration of 16 months. This contract reinforces Nexans’ position as a long-term partner of the utility and as a major player of sustainable electrification.

The low-and medium-voltage cables will be manufactured at Nexans Italian plant in Battipaglia and will be using 100% guaranteed low-carbon aluminum, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions by 35% to 50%, depending on the products. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, these products will be employed in underground powerlines, which are designed to be more resilient to the increasingly frequent extreme climate phenomena that affect power distribution infrastructure worldwide.

Through this collaboration, Nexans once again demonstrates its deep commitment in developing sustainable solutions to answer its strategic clients’ challenges.

Additionally, the ULTRACKER DRUMS solution will assist the utility in tracking and managing the delivery of their cables on site, enabling real-time geolocation of cable drums thanks to edge-computing technologies, and providing unique advantages such as shipments follow-up, theft detection, remote monitoring, residual cable length management, and a streamlined drum pick-up.

Nexans is happy to announce its membership to the Current/OS Foundation, a non-profit, open and independent foundation for the promotion and adoption of active direct current (DC) microgrids.

Make the transition to DC-powered buildings a reality

Cables are a fundamental part of a building’s electrical infrastructure in the transition to DC-powered structures: Nexans is committed to design and manufacture cable systems that are compatible and optimized with future DC building infrastructures.

DC is a game-changer in tomorrow’s energy transition

Max-André Delannoy, Group Technical & Innovation VP at Nexans, explains : “we already live in a DC world: electronic devices, solar generation, battery energy storage systems, LED lighting, electric vehicles, ventilation and air-conditioning systems are all DC-powered. But all these devices are interfaced by AC/DC converters that introduce significant losses during conversion. DC is a game-changer in tomorrow’s energy transition for a more efficient, smarter electrical infrastructure. It is essential for Nexans to better understand such architecture and its deployment in buildings, to develop the most suitable cable solution. Joining Current/OS and leveraging Nexans’s expertise, we are helping to make the vision of smart, connected, sustainable DC-powered structures a reality.”

Towards unified standards and codes

Several challenges need to be addressed for the adoption of DC-powered buildings to become widespread. One of the significant challenges is the uptake by industry professionals who have extensive knowledge and experience in AC power. It will take a collective effort by industry leaders, manufacturers, and regulators to educate and train professionals on DC-powered infrastructure.

In addition, building standards and codes need to be built to address specifications for DC-powered devices. This will ensure that buildings are designed and constructed with DC infrastructure in mind and that the safety and performance requirements for DC-powered devices are met.

The Foundation was set up to assure the availability of the Current/OS Set of Rules to any product manufacturer. It aims to come to a unified standard for DC microgrid control purposes. The Foundation provides its partners with an open set of rules and clear guidelines on how to manufacture products that work in a Current/OS based DC environment.

By joining the Foundation, Nexans is showing its commitment to innovate to make possible the transition to more efficient electrical systems.